[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The Gunnam Dam, which controls the floodwaters of the Imjin River, has approached its planned flood level of 40m.
On the 5th, at around 7:30 PM, Gunnam Dam recorded 39.99m, marking the highest water level ever recorded.
Both inflow and discharge volumes have also reached record highs. As of 8 PM, 13,172 tons per second flowed in, and 13,171 tons per second were discharged. The previous highest water level was 35.25m on July 12, 2013.
As the discharge volume from Gunnam Dam increased, the water level downstream also rose, triggering an emergency in the Yeoncheon and Paju areas of Gyeonggi Province. As of 5:30 PM, the water level at Pilsunggyo Bridge in Yeoncheon County was 11.56m, and at Biryongdaegyo Bridge in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju City, it was 10.46m.
The Hangang Flood Control Office replaced the flood advisory issued at 1:50 PM for the area around Biryongdaegyo Bridge in Paju City with a flood warning at 4:30 PM and urged nearby residents to exercise caution.
The Hangang Flood Control Office stated, "Due to heavy rain, the water level at Biryongdaegyo Bridge in Paju City has continued to rise, and it is expected to exceed the flood warning level (11.5m on the water level gauge, 18.93m above sea level) around 5:40 PM, so the flood advisory was upgraded to a warning."
Paju City guided residents in flood-prone areas such as Yulgok-ri in Papyeong-myeon and Duji-ri in Jeokseong-myeon to evacuate and prepared for evacuation. Accordingly, from 3 PM, 42 households totaling 68 people from Duji-ri, Jeokseong-myeon evacuated to Gyeonggi Tax High School, and 7 households totaling 18 people from Yulgok-ri, Papyeong-myeon evacuated to Papyeong Middle School.
In Yeoncheon County, residents from six towns and villages downstream of the Imjin River, totaling about ten villages, were evacuated starting at 4 PM.
In the Cheorwon area of Gangwon Province, evacuation orders were also issued. After the Hantan River overflowed, additional flooding was feared in tributaries of the Imjin River, prompting emergency evacuation orders for residents.
Emergency evacuation orders were issued to about 230 residents of Jeongyeon-ri in Galmal-eup, a village near the Military Demarcation Line, and about 130 residents of Igil-ri in Dongsong-eup. Starting at 6 PM, disaster alert messages were sent urging about 200 households and 440 residents in Yul-ri and Daema-ri to urgently evacuate to Cheorwon Elementary School.
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